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Yet, even in the political world, Hartmann is hardly a household name.

He — and his politics — are unconventional, to say the least. Hartmann labels himself a Democratic socialist and once had a show on Air America, but he gets invited to the Conservative Political Action Conference every year and has won the respect of some on the right.

The 62-year-old vegetarian who lives on a boat has a modest ’60s-era goal: nothing short of creating “a better world” by getting his listeners more engaged in the political process. “Tag, you’re it!” is the catchphrase he uses to end each show — a sign-off, he says, that aims to “encourage civic engagement.”

It should be no surprise, then, that Hartmann describes himself and his wife, Louise, who serves as his executive producer, as “old leftover hippie activists.”

“People don’t get involved, then the predators take over,” Hartmann said. “The only thing that is preventing the sociopaths, the predators, from consuming our government, is the civic engagement of the people, supporting politicians who are willing to push back against them.”

The “most voracious of the predators,” according to Hartmann, are “in business. They’re pouring millions and in some cases billions of dollars into the political arena and they end up owning politicians. … It’s not that money is the root of all evil, it’s that the love of money is the root of all evil, it’s the demonstration of that.”

Hartmann also said he “could give a list of my, gee, I wish [President Barack] Obama had done more, but I don’t think that he’s the problem.” What has stopped the president from accomplishing more, he says, is the “implacable Republican machine.”

There is one politician in Washington whose beliefs line up squarely with Hartmann’s — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

And every Friday, the two team up for an hour of Hartmann’s show that they’ve dubbed “Brunch With Bernie.” Listeners from around the country call in to speak one on one with the independent senator, something Sanders said he has enjoyed doing since they started the feature several years ago.

“I’m a big fan of Thom’s,” Sanders told POLITICO. “I think there are many parts of the United States where progressive points of view are virtually not heard at all. It’s all Rush Limbaugh or Rush Limbaugh wannabes. So the fact that we have gotten into many outlets all over the country, I enjoy that very much.”